February 2006
Recording recording recording. Did I mention I'm recording? There will be new songs soon. There will be light. In the meantime, here's two free tracks: the poppy I See The Light and the neo-psychedelic Exit Cue. Enjoy amici. Baci a tutti.
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December 2004:
So I've started working on a few demos for the next full length. I've got tons of ideas and not enough time to record them all. I think the next release is going to have more fast songs 'cause that's what I've been feeling lately. I'm going on a holiday trip to the Yucatan, so recording will be put off for awhile. I'm sure the trip will be inspiring though, and I'm looking forward to working in earnest on new material in the new year.
Honeypower is the featured artist on Radio X Independent radio! Request "The Ties That Bind" and listen to them online. They have great playlists with lots of indie artists.
Deflowered got a 9/12 on Indiepages.com. "This record is the debut release from this one-man band/project from Brooklyn, and is a lot better than the album's cover first suggested to me (not to knock the packaging - it is nice, but my first impression suggested something a lot different). The music treads the line somewhere between the jangly pop of For Against and the shoegazer-ish sound of the Radio Dept, with hints of the Jesus And Mary Chain (particularly the middle-period), Luna and My Bloody Valentine (from whom I imagine the band took its name) coming through, as well. Many of the songs are midtempo, and the production is generally very clean, which is a good thing - but unfortunately, the songs can run a little long at times, which coupled with the album's production and moderate tempos, gives the songs a same-y feel and even seems to make the 50-minute long album drag at times. Still, there are some really fantastic songs on here, like "I See The Light", "Some Days Are Fine" and the upbeat "My Little Sun" - I just think the album could've been shortened by a couple songs. MTQ=9/12"
You can download HP songs from Music.Download.com now.They have a crazy amount of indie artists and tons of genres to explore.
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September 2004:
Went to They Walk In Line's CBGB's show and was floored. I'd heard their studio tracks and wondered if they could evoke the same intensity live. Well, they definitely can and if you have the opportunity to see them live (they're based in LA) do yourself a favor and do so immediately. They combine the best parts of Echo & The Bunnymen and Joy Division and then sprinkle some My Bloody Valentine in for good measure. The result is a sound that is modern yet feels like an instant classic... They have free MP3's on their site, check it out.
The Ex-Lovers are on a nationwide tour this October. Go see my former bandmate Will Eskridge play drums and sing at the same time. He's waaay better than Phil Collins, I promise you.
HP randomly reviewed on the very-Euro Intellectos website (which "Showcases The Electronic Music Underground). It's only a paragraph long, but apparently the reviewer was so overwhelmed and distracted by "Deflowered" that by the end of the review he thinks the band's name is "honeychurch"... Gotta love them Euros.
HP has a Myspace.com page now. You can listen to tunes and add the band to your friends list.
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August 2004:
"Deflowered" is an Editor's Pick on Smother.net: "Gavin Rhodes plays it all on “Deflowered”. Yes he’s the band all one member of it. But you wouldn’t know that for the sound. An immensely dense nod to Robert Smith and Morrissey without sounding traditionally gloomy, “Deflowered” will do just that to good music virgins as well as the accustomed slut (myself included). The fact that there’s a discussion of Haruki Murakami’s “The Wind-Up Bird Chroncile”, which of course saw excellent Salon coverage and interview sparks more interest in the odd assortment of counter-traditional Japanese culture and persona, is both invigorating and oddly inspiring (I gotta pick up this book). And let’s face it that’s what we all want out of music right? The specter that you too could pick up that old rusty instrument gathering dust in the basement and put it to good use, impressing at least your wife in the meantime. Right? Well it works, I thought to myself as I hit record for the first time in a long while."
More spins: Cambridge's WMBR 88.1's Breakfast of Champions is serving up some HP. Request it on 617-253-8810.
WBRS 100.1 in Waltham, MA has played 4 tracks from the album. Demand more at 781-736-5BRS.
M3 Radio charts honeypower at #14 in their top 30.
Honeypower is featured as Artist of the Day on Webcds.com again!
Back to the studio: honeypower has started laying down some basic tracks for the next full length. More to come on this later...
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July 2004:
Check out Michael Henningson's article in The Albuquerque Alibi: "In this week's chapter of “Where Are They Now?” we explore the trials, travels and recent successes of Gavin Rhodes, formerly of one of Albuquerque's shortest-lived but truly great alt.rock bands, Silver. Rhodes is living in Brooklyn, N.Y. where he's a grad student in NYU's Music Business program. But more importantly, he's still making music, currently as Honeypower, a “band” in which he wears all the hats himself. Jesus and Mary Chain fans will go absolutely apeshit over Honeypower's debut, Deflowered (Push Productions). Although Rhodes performed all of the album's instrumentation himself, another local, Joe Brian Stammer, contributed additional guitar on the shimmering “Exit Cue,” just one of a dozen intriguing tracks to be reviewed in a coming issue. Meanwhile, get your copy of Deflowered at www.honeypower.com."
Honeypower on the radio: Bryan Grabigel of WMUA 91.1 in Boston has been spinning tracks from Deflowered on his Thurday evening "mnemonics" (6:30-9:00) show. Call in requests @ 413-545-3691.
Deflowered is now available for download from iTunes, Napster, MusicMatch, Rhapsody, and MusicNet!
Honey spottings: honeypower is mentioned on the excellent Cure fan website A Chain of Flowers...
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June 2004:
Deflowered is now available from UK based Panartist.com, who says honeypower has "...lavish, dizzyingly ambitious, guitar riffs that make good old fashion Indie!"
... or get it from AirForce Records: "Sweet and natural with the right blend of synthetics give them their HoneyPower. Hypnotic pop tunes from a band now hitting the New York scene with a splash."
Spent some time with A Hawk and a Handsaw's Jeremy Barnes back in Albuquerque. Jeremy is working on a new album due this winter. For the uninitiated, Jeremy's set-shaking drums have graced albums by Neutral Milk Hotel, Bablicon, Bright Eyes, and as Broadcast's recent touring drummer. Jeremy plays accordian too, and is the best live drummer I've ever seen. No really, he kicks ass.
Speaking of drummer/multi-instrumentalists, check out Will Eskridge's latest art & music @ Milktone Media. His band, The Ex-Lovers write catchy indie rock songs way better than you can. They have some free songs you can rock out to...
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May 2004:
CD's are now available at Amazon.com and CD Baby, as well as the honeypower store. What's the difference? They are only $6 from honeypower and the artist gets more cash, but if you're wary of using PayPal, CD baby and Amazon offer easy credit card transactions.
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April 2004:
Where to begin? The CD's are in stock now, and they look great. The packaging features 6 panels of artwork in a "jewel-free" case. Buy them for only $6 from here. The CD's will also soon be available from CD baby and Amazon.com.
Honeypower will be shooting a video for "My Little Sun" in the near future. Check back for updates.
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March 2004:
Download free mp3's from the Music page!
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honeypower launches a rewards program. For every album sale (mp3 or CD) that you refer, you get 1 dollar! There is no limit on the amount of referrals you can make, so spread the word about the band and make some extra cash! All your friends have to do is submit your name or email address when they purchase the album and you'll be paid via PayPal!
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Deflowered is now for sale in mp3 format! You can also pre-order the CD and get an instant download of the mp3's so you can listen immediately.
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February 2004:
The album was sent out to Oasis CD manufacturing to be pressed.
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Deflowered is released in mp3 format. The album is the debut release for honeypower. The CD, with frame-worthy cover art will be coming soon!
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On Valentines Day, honeypower had a photo-shoot with Cabezon Design Group's Kurt Lebeck. See the results on the "pics" page.
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Acclaimed artist Thomas Tomlinson was commissioned to do the artwork for Deflowered. Tomlinson's gorgeous mixed-media work will adorn the packaging on the upcoming CD.
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Winter 2003/2004:
Recording and mixing of Deflowered in Bungalow Studios, Brooklyn.
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